Two cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess necessitating liver resection for effective treatment

We report two British cases of liver abscess, due to Klebsiella pneumoniae and associated with synchronous infection elsewhere, which required liver resection for definitive treatment. They illustrate the geographic spread of aggressive K pneumoniae liver infection and demonstrate the importance of early aggressive treatment.     

Prevention of Descending Pneumonia in Rats with Perflubron-delivered Tobramycin

OBJECTIVES: Patients undergoing emergent endotracheal intubation are at increased risk for developing pneumonia. Although numerous strategies have been investigated to reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), the incidence of VAP and its associated mortality remains high. This investigation tested the hypothesis that LiquiVent (Alliance Pharmaceutical, San Diego, CA-LV) delivered antibiotics (via spray-dried microspheres-SDM) would improve survival in a rat model of descending gram-negative pneumonia. METHODS: Wistar rats (n = 49) were randomized to receive prophylaxis with 1). nothing (controls); 2). intramuscular (IM) tobramycin, 3). intratracheal LV plus SDM shells (vehicle), 4). intratracheal LV plus SDM shells plus IM tobramycin, or 5). intratracheal LV plus SDM containing 1 mg/kg of tobramycin. All interventions were given 24 hours before a bacterial challenge with 10(8) colony-forming units of intratracheal Klebsiella pneumoniae. Mortality at ten days was the sole outcome measure. Survival in individual groups was compared with controls by Fisher's exact test with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: All animals in the control group died of pneumonia within ten days of bacterial inoculation (0% survival). Prophylaxis with either IM tobramycin or SDM vehicle plus IM tobramycin provided no protection (0% survival). This is in sharp contrast to the cohort receiving pretreatment with tobramycin-containing SDM delivered via LV, in which 60% of the animals survived to study completion (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Prophylaxis with SDM containing antibiotics delivered in low-dose LV provided significant protection in a rat model of descending gram-negative pneumonia. These data support the hypothesis that perfluorocarbon-delivered intratracheal antimicrobials may be useful in the prevention of VAP.     

Anti-gal-C antibody in autoimmune neuropathies subsequent to mycoplasma infection

Four of 82 patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and 1 of 12 with multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), who previously had had Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, had serum antibody to galactocerebroside (Gal-C). Two patients with GBS without mycoplasma infection also had anti-Gal-C antibody, whereas none of the normal or the disease controls had it. As Gal-C is a major glycolipid antigen in myelin, anti-Gal-C antibody may function in the pathogenesis of autoimmune demyelinative neuropathies. Mycoplasma pneumoniae appears to be an important preceding infectious agent in autoimmune neuropathies with anti-Gal-C antibody. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

应用质粒分析探讨医院内细菌感染的流行病学特点

为探讨医院内细菌感染的流行病学特点，作者借助临床分离的６４株肺为克雷伯菌，４５株阴沟肠杆菌和６３株醋酸钙不动杆菌，进行质粒图谱分３种细菌分别有５８株，３５株和４１株含有质粒，且分别构成４６个，２１个和２３个质粒图谱型。结果表明：质粒分析为查明医院内细菌感染源和感染途径提供了较为直接，准确的客观依据，同时也看到了质粒分析的局限性。     

Viridans group streptococci: a reservoir of resistant bacteria in oral cavities

The worldwide spread of erythromycin A-resistant streptococci, including Streptococcus pneumoniae , is of concern. Many studies have demonstrated that the viridans group streptococci can be a reservoir of erythromycin A resistance. Within oral streptoccoci, an important difference in the susceptibility pattern has been noted. The purpose of this short editorial is to highlight the importance of this group of bacteria as a reservoir of resistance to erythromycin A and the possible transfer of resistance to S. pneumoniae and S. pyogenes.     

Serum IgA and IgG functional antibodies and their subclasses to Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular antigen found in two aged‐matched cohorts of children with and without otitis media with effusion

Serum IgA and IgG functional antibodies and their subclasses to Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular antigen found in two aged‐matched cohorts of children with and without otitis media with effusion The relationship between acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion (OME) is uncertain and the aetiology of OME is multifactorial. Otitis media with effusion may be an inflammatory condition; both bacteria and viral infections could play a part in this inflammation. The four bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, Staphylococcus aureus and Branhamella catarrhalis cause 60% of the infections whereas S. pneumoniae accounts for up to 35%. IgA provides the dominant surface response to polysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide antigens, of which IgA₂ is the main subclass. Once the mucosa has been breached, most protection is provided by IgG. IgG₂ acts mainly against bacterial capsular antigens. This study looked at two groups of 50 children with and without OME who were aged between 3 and 10 years. The aims were to determine if, firstly, the levels of the serum immunoglobulins were different in the two groups, secondly whether these children made the appropriate antibody response to the capsular antigen to S. pneumoniae (PCP), and finally if there was a delay in the maturity of the IgA response. The total IgG, IgA and all subclass levels were measured using radial immunodiffusion. Levels of functional IgA and IgG were measured using ELISAs (25 patients in each group). The results were analysed with non‐parametric tests. The immunoglobulin levels were within the normal levels for both groups. There were very good correlations between the IgG total anti‐PCP and the IgG₂ anti‐PCP (R > 0.9, p = 0.001). There was a good correlation between the levels of both IgG total and IgG₂ anti‐PCP against IgA total anti‐PCP in both groups (R > 0.85, p > 0.01). This confirms a normal antibody response between both groups of patients. The ages of the controls and patients (50 samples) were correlated with increasing titres of circulating functional antibodies (P = 0.001). This is highly suggestive of a normal age‐related response. In conclusion, the findings were contradictory to our original hypothesis that there is a subtle difference in surface protection between children with and without OME. We believe that a previous history of recurrent acute otitis media is unrelated to the development of OME after 3 years of age.     

肺炎衣原体抗体效价与多发性硬化的相关性探讨

目的 探讨肺炎衣原体（Chlamydia pneumoniae）感染在多发性硬化（MS）发病和进展中的作用和致病机制。方法 选取急性期MS患者31例，缓解期MS患者28例及其他神经系统疾病患者30例，健康对照者30名，应用酶联免疫吸附试验测定患者和对照者血清及脑脊液中肺炎衣原体IgG和IgM抗体水平。结果 急性期MS组、缓解期MS组、其他神经系统疾病组和健康对照组的肺炎衣原体血清IgG分别为48．4％、35．7％、30．0％、23．3％；4组IgM抗体效价分别为12．9％、14．3％、20．0％、10．0％，总体比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；急性期MS组与其他神经系统疾病组的脑脊液IgG和IgM抗体效价分别为0、6．7％和0、0，差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论 肺炎衣原体的感染或重复感染与MS发病相关不紧密，可能仅为MS的伴随感染。     

Gram-negative bacterial pneumonia with secondary aspergillosis in an AIDS patient

Summary A 40-year-old, HIV-infected female patient received antibiotic treatment for a urinary tract infection. After the initial success of therapy and a symptom-free period, she developed pneumonia with septic shock and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In spite of intensive care and respirator therapy with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), she died of infectious toxic shock. Autopsy findings showed relapsing, gramnegative, bacterial pneumonia (morphologically compatible with Klebsiella pneumonia) and secondary, invasive aspergillosis. The pathogenesis and epidemiology of these unusual complications of AIDS are discussed.Abbreviations AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - ARDS adult respiratory distress syndrome - CDC Centers for Disease Control - HIV human immunodeficiency virus - PEEP positive end-expiratory pressure     

肺炎衣原体感染小鼠肺组织免疫组化表现

目的 :通过研究小鼠肺组织免疫组化 ,对肺炎衣原体肺炎的发病机制进行初步的探讨。　方法 :以肺炎衣原体鼻内或静脉接种Icr小鼠 ,在不同时间点处死动物 ,用免疫组化的方法检测小鼠肺炎衣原体肺炎急性期肺组织的病理改变。　结果 :小鼠吸入肺炎衣原体后第 3、7、14天 ,肺组织中肺炎衣原体的免疫过氧化酶染色呈阳性。炎性肺组织阳性染色呈不均一性 ,为局限性分布。肺炎衣原体抗原阳性表达主要在肺泡巨噬细胞、间质细胞以及支气管周围淋巴组织等部位。静脉接种组引起上述类似改变 ,但程度轻 ,肺炎衣原体抗原阳性表达主要集中在肺泡巨噬细胞及间质细胞中。　结论 :免疫组化法检测小鼠肺炎衣原体肺炎急性期肺组织的病理改变 ,有助于肺炎衣原体肺炎急性期的诊断。肺炎衣原体呼吸道局部感染比血行感染的病理改变更为严重